Device for indicating the proximity of icebergs.



A. PlLGER.

DEVICE FOR INDICA'HNG THE PROXIMITYOF ICEBERG S.

' APPLICATION fILED MAR. i6. 191

Patented. Nov. 20, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ull" A. PKLGER. DEVICE FOR IN'DICATlNfi THE PROXIIWITY 0F ICEBERGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6. 1917- Fsmemed Nov. 20, 1911?.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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specification of Iietterslateht. Patented Now. 11917,

Application filed March 16, 1917. Serial No. 155,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLr PiLGER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, resident of Marshwood, county of Lackawanna, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Indicating the Proximity of Icebergs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for ships, and has as its principal object the provision of means whereby the imminent proximity of icebergs or icefiows may be determined and an audible sig nal giving warning of the fact.

Other objects are the provision of such means in forms which may be readily ap plied or installed in boats of any character whatever, either in their original construction or added thereafter.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical diagrammatic view taken through the waist of a large sea-going vessel, indicating the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation show ing;1 the principal details of construction, an

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 represents a conventional view illustrative of the general arrangements on the larger sea-going ships, the numeral 10 indicating substantially the water line or depth of submergence, the hold 11 therebelow, con taining the boilers, engines, and other machinery which is partially protected by coal bunkers 12, while the horizontal lines 14 indicate the various decks.

One of the smoke stacks 15 has adjacent to it a steam pipe 16, provided at its top with a whistle 17, in this case used as a danger signal, operated through the rod 18.

Depending below or at least level with the lowermost part of the hull of the vessel is a tube 20 having an inlet 21 provided with a strainer or the like to prevent the entrance of seaweed, fish, etc., into the pipe leading to a pump 22, here shown to be of the centrifugal type and which is used to force the water into a tank 23; an outlet 24 is provided to permit a constant circulation throughout the tank, which is thus kept constantly filled with water of the temperature through which the vessel is sailing.

Formed with the cover 26, of the tank 23, is a well or central depression 27 containing a cylinder 28, open at its top 29 and filled partially with a substance 30, as mercury, the bulk of which is expansible or contractible by changes in temperature.

Floating on the top of the mercury is a plunger 31 to which is attached a rod 32 leading to a lever 33 which has engaged with it the signal operating rod 18. Thus if the vessel approach a zone of extremely cold water, the same is immediately transmitted into the tank 23, chilling the mercury, causing it to contract or shrink so as to lower the plunger 31, automatically operating a signal, announcing audibly that the vessel is within a danger zone, so that precautions may be taken to escape therefrom.

Ordinarily, the apparatus is arranged so that normally no signal is given as none is required. It will be noted that the operation of the apparatus is entirely automatic and controlled by the temperature of the surrounding water.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a ship having an audible signal, the combination with a tank, and means for circulating the water in which the vessel floats through said tank, of a cylinder partially submerged in said tank, said cylinder having a closed lower end, a plunger operable in said cylinder, means combined with said plunger for operating the mentioned signal, and means in said cylinder for actuating said plunger upon a change of temperature of the water circulating through said tank.

2. In a ship, the combination with a tank and a pump for supplying Water thereto from below the ship, of means providing a circulation of water through said tank, a second tank supported in the first named tank, a float movable in said second tank, means in said second tank adapted to contract or expand according to the tempera ture of the Water in the first named tank, tank, a mercury holding cylinder engaged in and means operated by said float for producsaid tank, a float supported by the contents 10 ing an audible signal. thereof, and means combined With said float 3. In a ship, the combination With a Wafor operating said signal. a i

5 ter tank having inlet and outlet" pipesand" In testimony whereof I have afiixed my an audible signal means, of a pump in said signature this 16th day of February, 1917. inlet pipe by which Water from bGlOW the- 1T vessel is caused to circulate through said g V A'DOLF PILGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

' V Washington, D10? 7 i 

